Calgary Hailstorm Causes $2.6 Billion in Damages, 2nd Costliest in Canada

The August hailstorm in Calgary caused nearly $2.8 billion in damages, with claims from tens of thousands after baseball-sized hail damaged buildings, shattered windshields, and grounded over a dozen WestJet flights.
“Alberta’s insurers have been on the ground assisting customers with needed repairs and financial support, and working to process over 130,000 claims from the hailstorm. Rebuilding will take time and our industry will continue to be there to support impacted communities every step of the way,” Aaron Sutherland, IBC vice-president for Western and Pacific, said in a Sept. 11 press release.
Alberta has faced some of the costliest disasters in Canadian history, significantly impacting home, business, and auto insurance premiums, according to the IBC. In addition to the recent hailstorm, insurers are also addressing the Jasper wildfire, which has caused over $880 million in insured damages.
The Calgary area, in particular, has faced several catastrophic hailstorms in recent years, including the 2020 and 2021 storms that resulted in over $1.2 billion and $700 million in insured damages, respectively, according to IBC.
IBC noted that insured losses from severe weather in Canada now routinely exceed $2 billion annually. In contrast, between 2001 and 2010, Canadian insurers averaged $701 million per year in such losses.